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added players as the years went by. Golf debacle, the PGA has belatedly restored In the early 1980s, the World Golf Hall of their original honorees (including all seventeen Fame ran into significant financial difficulties missing above) and McDermott is once again in and in 1983 the PGA stepped in to take over a PGA Hall of Fame. management, eventually taking over full However, the fact remains that the claim of ownership in 1986. The PGA planned to merge the World Golf Hall of Fame to be “the ultimate their Hall of Fame, now consisting of fifty destination for the celebration and recognition members, with that of World Golf. However, of golf's greatest players and contributors – an only twenty-one of the PGA names were already inspiration to golfers and fans throughout the members of the World Golf inductees. For world” will not be realized. Not until they cease reasons that have never been fully explained, the the internal bickering and restore the missing remaining original members of the PGA Hall of original inductees to their rightful place. Fame were simply dropped, evicted, and required re-election to become part of the new merged World Golf Hall of Fame. PGA officials refused to comment on the decision to exclude some of Johnny Farrell the greatest names in golf, instead Winner of the 1928 US Open. 22 tour victories pointing to the possibility of re(including eight consecutive wins). election. Some names have managed to creep back onto the list, but Doug Ford shamefully there are still seventeen Winner of the 1955 PGA and 1959 Masters. players – seventeen of the finest 19 tour victories. Four-time Ryder Cup team players of their generation – left out in member. the cold (see sidebar). Vic Ghezzi Unforgivably, this includes the Winner of the 1941 PGA. 11 tour victories. tragic figure of Johnny McDermott, the first American-born winner of Chick Harbert the US Open in 1911 (which he Winner of the 1954. Seven tour victories. defended the following year) and still Two-time Ryder Cup team member and the youngest ever winner at the age of captain in 1955. nineteen. Visitors to the faux chateau in St Augustine that now houses this Chandler Harper “Hall of Shame” will see no reference Winner of the 1950 PGA. Seven tour victories. to arguably the world’s best player of his time and a genuine American E.J. “Dutch” Harrison 18 tour victories (fifth all-time). Vardon hero, but instead can read about Bing Trophy winner 1954. Crosby, Bob Hope, and even majorMike Brady Winner of the 1922 Western Open (then less Seniors’ Tour cabaret act Chi Chi Jock Hutchinson considered a major) and two-time US Open Rodriguez. Winner of the 1920 PGA and 1921 Open runner-up. To muddy the waters further, in Championship. 2005 something called the PGA Golf Billy Burke Professional Hall of Fame opened in Johnny McDermott (pictured) Winner of the 1931 US Open. 13 tour victories. Port St Lucie, Florida. The names Winner of the 1911 and 1912 US Opens (first here are primarily those of PGA Past US-born winner). Bobby Cruickshank Presidents and PGA Golf Professionals 20 tour victories. Leading money winner on Fred McLeod (aka club pros) of the year since 1955. tour in 1927. Two-time US Open runner-up Winner of the 1908 US Open. Multiple tour Whilst it is unlikely that many will go and two-time PGA runner-up. victories. out of their way to look at an exhibit Ed Dudley on pros such as Dugan Aycock (1957), Johnny Revolta 15 tour wins (including 1931 Western Open). Hubby Habjan (1965) or Hardy Winner of the 1935 PGA. 18 tour victories. First man to finish in the top 10 in all four Loudermilk (1968), or leave the majors in one year (1937). Head pro at beach to see portraits of former PGA Alex Smith Augusta National from 1932 to 1957. officialdom, what may draw attention Winner of the 1906 and 1910 US Opens. is the inclusion of what they’ve called Olin Dutra PGA Member Original Inductees. MacDonald Smith Winner of the 1932 PGA and 1934 US Open. 24 tour victories. Three Western Open wins. Perhaps in recognition of t heir 19 tour victories. disservice to their sport in the World
The Missing Inductees
The Hall of Shame Dr Milton Wayne reports on the dishonourable tale of the forgotten heroes missing from the World Golf Hall of Fame.
T Dr Milton Wayne
he World Golf Hall of Fame is a popular tourist attraction in the World Golf Village complex near St Augustine, Florida. Hundreds of thousands of golf fans visit each year, and due to its size and sheer number of exhibits, it requires a good four hours to take it all in. The purpose of the WGHOF is simple: showcase the men and women whose contribution to golf made the game what it is today. That is as it should be, but unfortunately is not actually true. What few realize is that the financial and political machinations that led to the creation of the World Golf Hall of Fame in the first place have resulted in many of the greatest early players being “evicted”, despite having been 36
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inducted decades before to the original PGA Hall of Fame. The result is an embarrassing number of early stars being ignored and unknown to current and future generations. Two years after baseball created the first sporting Hall of Fame, and at legendary writer Grantland Rice’s suggestion, the governing body of professional golf in the US founded a PGA Hall of Fame in 1941 to celebrate the achievements of the early golfing greats that shaped the game. A total of twelve players were inducted that year. As the years went by, more greats were added to the roll of honour. In 1974, the owners of Pinehurst Resort, Diamondhead Corp, seeking a tourist attraction, started a privately-operated World Golf Hall of Fame with thirteen original inductees. This also HKGOLFER.COM
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